The earthquake that struck southern Türkiye has forced people back to Syrian displacement camps. This time around the camps have become the homes of Turks, whose houses were destroyed in the earthquake.
Turkish authorities had vacated nearly all of these camps after the Syrians obtained the Turkish citizenship and settled in other Turkish cities where they formed families, set up businesses and found jobs. Other Syrians were returned to northern Syria.
Mohammed is a Syrian in his twenties who obtained Turkish citizenship. He was living in Kahramanmaras city with his family when the earthquake struck a week ago. He fled outdoors with his family. He was one of the lucky few whose house was not destroyed.
This does not deny the terror that the family experienced with the violent tremors and deafening sounds “that we had never heard before.”
Mohammed’s three friends were not as lucky. They are buried under the rubble and their bodies have yet to be retrieved.
“I headed with my family to a displacement camp on the outskirts of the city. I secured them a place to stay and then went back to the city to search for my friend,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.
He could have secured a less crowded place to stay had he shown authorities his Turkish citizenship, but his parents, who are very ill, do not have the citizenship. The family had to therefore stay with relatives in the Syrian section of the camp.
“Every home is housing more than a single family. Sometimes five families can be found staying in a small house,” he said.
The return to the camp was not planned. The relatives of the residents of the camp were the first to arrive and later their acquaintances. The Turks were the last to arrive. This consequently led to disorganization in the camp that was promptly addressed by the Turkish authorities, who dispatched officials from the migration department to handle the situation. Later, organizations, tasked with handling, the affairs of Turkish citizens arrived at the camp.
The camp was provided with electricity after some five days. On the seventh day, water was secured, but officials warned people against drinking it. The displaced then turned to a nearby spring to collect water. Bottled drinking was soon provided at the camp.
Even though there are no tensions between the Syrians and the Turks, the authorities separated them into two sections to better manage their affairs. The affairs of Syrians are handled by the migration department, while those of Turks are handled by local relief organizations.
One Turkish citizen said: “We used to live with them normally in cities and villages and now, we are living with them until we are provided with new shelter.”
Even so, it is hard not to notice the great calm and silence in the Turkish section of the camp and the great hustle and bustle in the Syrian section. “The Turks like to stay inside their homes, while the Syrians live outside them,” explained one Syrian.
Order was soon established at the camp. A Turkish volunteer said that at first demands were made for essential needs, but now, the people are making less pressing demands, “which means we have succeeded.”
The Turkish volunteer said the number of Turkish people is not expected to rise, rather, he predicted that it may decrease. “Those who came to the camp are now weighing their options, such as heading to relatives or renting a house,” he added.
“Those who did not come here have already secured a place to stay,” he explained.
Only the number of Syrians is on the rise. Their choices are limited. The camp is the better option than sleeping on the street. The camp is located in an area that is known for its harsh and snowy winters. The snow that is stacked at the entrance of the camp is testament to the weather in spite of the sunny skies.
One woman took advantage of the clear conditions to clean the entrance to her room. Nearby, children play football, while cats watch on. They were likely raised by the longtime inhabitants of the camp.
